The Peabody Award™-winning comedy television series Mystery Science Theater 3000, one of the most beloved TV shows of all time, will be returning for 13th season thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign helmed by series creator and former host Joel Hodgson, and supported by legions of devoted fans.
The campaign, which concluded at 8 pm PT on Friday, May 7, raised over $6.5 million in 30 days. This will allow Hodgson to produce 13 episodes of the show, including the series’ first 3-D episode, 12 new short film riffs, and build “the Gizmoplex,” a new virtual theater and online community hub that will be the exclusive home of the next season for its initial run. Embracing a direct-to-fan distribution model allows Hodgson to honor one of the most common requests he hears from fans: releasing each new episode one at a time as they are ready for release, rather than holding them until the entire season is complete. Once it has been launched, Hodgson and his team plan to use the Gizmoplex to host live episode premieres, real-time watch parties and special live events year-round. Fans who were unable to participate in the Kickstarter will still have a chance to get involved with MST3K’s next season, starting with a “late pledge” period that will allow them to pledge for campaign-exclusive rewards and experiences.
In fact, in an echo of the 2015 Kickstarter campaign, fan demand for more MST3K exceeded even Hodgson’s estimation. The campaign’s original goal was to raise $5.5 million, the number needed to cover campaign expenses, launch the Gizmoplex, and produce a full season of 12 brand-new, feature-length episodes and 12 new short film riffs. But in the campaign’s final 12 hours, as fans raced past the original target, Hodgson announced two “stretch goals,” and fans responded, passing the final goal of $6,364,230 million (the total raised during the record-breaking 2015 Kickstarter campaign) during the final hour of the campaign, and raising a grand total of $6,519,019. The additional funds will allow Hodgson to add a 13th episode, a holiday special that will feature Hodgson, Jonah Ray and Emily Marsh as co-hosts.
"When we decided that Kickstarter was our best chance at making more MST3K without a network, we hoped that some of our backers would join up again... but we never dreamed that the response would be even bigger the second time around. We're so humbled and grateful and deliriously happy to be making more MST3K for the people who love it most, and can't wait to get started on 'lucky' Season 13," Hodgson said, adding, "Now we just have to make sure The Mads come through on building the Gizmoplex. I guess we'll wire all the funds to them this afternoon and hope for the best?"
“It’s all coming together as planned. Once again, we’ve played the MST3K fanbase like a violin,” said Kinga Forrester, heir to the Forrester Family media empire, from her executive suite in her climate controlled bunker on Moon 13. Her Vice President of distribution, TV’s Son of TV’s Frank, added, “You said it, boss. Now to invest it all in Dogecoin so we can double our money by summer!”
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Joel and Alternaversal on a new season of MST3K and the Gizmoplex,” said Bob Emmer and Garson Foos, co-CEOs of Shout! Factory. “Like Joel, we believe in the enduring appeal of the show, and we’re so grateful to the fans for their support.”
With a fresh batch of cheesy movies to riff, Hodgson will be involved in all facets of production of the new episodes. While MST3K’s next season will feature the return of Felicia Day as Mad “Kinga Forrester” and Patton Oswalt as the evil henchman “Max” a.k.a “TV’s Son of TV’s Frank,” The Mads will have even bigger plans for global domination, and they involve forcing multiple test subjects to riff movies, each from a different location! Jonah Ray will return as host “Jonah Heston” alongside Baron Vaughn as “Tom Servo,” Hampton Yount as “Crow T. Robot” and Rebecca Hanson as “GPC 1” aboard The Satellite of Love. MST3K LIVE’s Emily Marsh joins the series’ cast as host “Emily Connor” alongside MST3K LIVE’s Conor McGiffin as “Tom Servo,” Nate Begle as “Crow T. Robot,” and Yvonne Freese as “GPC 2” and “Mega Synthia.” Original series cast members Mary Jo Pehl and J. Elvis Weinstein will be appearing in the new season, and Hodgson is also confirmed to host two episodes next season, reprising his original role as test subject “Joel Robinson,” the character he played in the first five seasons of the series, during its run on Comedy Central.
Throughout the production process, Hodgson and team will keep MST3K’s backers informed and involved with regular updates on Kickstarter and MakeMoreMST3K.com. For additional info visit MST3K.org, or follow MST3K on Facebook (facebook.com/MST3K), Twitter (@MST3K) and Instagram (@MST3K). 
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